In view of the pandemic and surge in the cases of coronavirus, Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope earlier on Wednesday, April 28, stated that the lockdown across the state is to be extended beyond April 30, for another 15 days.
The strict curbs on the movement of people and a host of other activities are in force in the state since April 14 and were to end on April 30. However, essential services have been exempted from the curbs.
Meanwhile, the Bombay High Court, while hearing a petition, had directed the state government to impose a strict lockdown for at least 15 days. Despite the current curfew, coronavirus cases have not diminished as people are leaving their homes due to which the court had directed the state government to impose a strict lockdown for at least 15 days in order to prevent people from leaving their homes without any urgent reason.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni asked Advocate General Ashutosh Kumbhakoni if the restrictions imposed by the government are working and are people really adhering to the restrictions. According to reports, the bench further clarified that it is not issuing a mandate but urging the government to reconsider the option of imposing lockdown, while hearing the PIL on mismanagement of the COVID-19 situation in Maharashtra and the shortage of Remdesivir, beds and medical oxygen in the state.
On the other hand, on Thursday, April 29, Maharashtra reported 66,159 new COVID-19 cases taking the COVID-19 tally of the state to 45,39,553, while it reported 771 deaths taking the total toll of fatalities to 67,985. At present, the state has 6,70,301 active cases.
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